QLD Letter of Authorisation for a Prize - Reimbursed for Lawyer Fees?

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Sandra Clark

Active Member
9 June 2015
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Are you required to fill in a letter of authorisation to claim a cash prize of 165,000.00?
I have been asked to pay $3,600.30 to legal fees or lawyer fees for a letter of authorisation.
But will I be reimbursed for all but $100.00 dollars after 24 hours, and when I have received the prize money?

Have had a lot of phone calls yesterday and this morning from the sponsor of prize.
 

Rod

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
27 May 2014
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www.hutchinsonlegal.com.au
Sounds very much like a scam. Pay us some money first and we'll pay you more tomorrow, next week whenever.

If it is an Australian prize, see if they have a legit lottery number and ring the relevant gov't department to confirm all the details.

If it is from overseas - SCAMMER ALERT.

Did you actually enter some kind of prize draw, do you have a valid ticket, was there any mention of legal fees on the terms of entry??

Do not get greedy else you will soon find yourself $3,600.30 poorer. If they are pressuring you time wise, this is another sign that a scammer is at work.
 

Sandra Clark

Active Member
9 June 2015
5
0
31
Do you think this is a SAM alert?

It seemed so legitimate, but they asked for money first.

I received a scratch & win tickets sent to me via post, and one was worth$165,000.00 with the company name and sponsor's names of ticket.

The company is overseas.

Dear Ms Blank,

Mr Blank told me that you've been fully identified as the legitimate
second prize winner of US$165,000.00 and they are going to release the
funds to their main bank in Hong Kong to facilitate the funds out over to
you. But their main bank can't proceed any further without a legal
documentation from the Hong Kong government court.

If you do not understand or are not clear about the legal documentation from
Hong Kong, I strongly suggest you not to proceed any further as we do not
wish to have any misunderstanding between you and our company, or the
sponsor.

First of all, I do apologize as I do not know this in advance, and Mr Blank
said, he wanted to let you know first hand by him. I will try to
re-explain to you from Mr Blank's explanation.

First of all, it's similar to most of the countries around the world, when
a huge amount of money is leaving out or going in the country. You would
need a black and white document, and this is what we call the "Letter Of
Authorisation".

This is an international transaction, therefore this "Letter of
Authorisation" is to safeguard both parties. For your end, after you have
received the amount of US$165,000.00 in your account, if any authority
were to question you as to where this money came from, you can show them
this "Letter of Authorisation" and show them that these funds are coming from legal
sources instead of money laundering or illegal trading of money. It's to prove
legal funds from legal sources are being sent to you.

It's also a declaration to our sponsor that they have sent the full amount
out over to you. Even if you receive a single dollar lesser, you can take
legal actions against our sponsor with this "Letter Of Authorisation".

This "Letter Of Authorisation" can be obtained directly from Hong Kong
Government Court whereby there are conditions needed in order for the
"Letter of Authorisation" to be issued.

Basically Hong Kong Government Court has a contract, a financial bond in
order to bind both parties, whereby they will need a legal sender and a
legal recipient participating in a security deposit of 4.4% of the total
amount which is equivalent to US$7,260 and this must be borne by both
parties in order to be bind into the legal contract.

Our sponsor will bear half of that which is US$3,630 and you yourself will
need to bear the other half of US$3,630. Once the court sees both parties
have met the necessary requirements, the high court will issue the "Letter
of Authorisation" in two original copies.

Our sponsor will submit the legal document to the bank and the bank will
have the green light to release your transaction after the "Letter Of
Authorisation" has been issued. Upon receiving your prize US$165,000.00
within 24-48 hours our sponsor will be processing your refund back to you,
but when you receive your refunds, there will be a US$100 deduction for
the Hong Kong Government Seal, so you will only get US$3,530 refunded.

If you manage the funds and wish to proceed, please do let me know in
advance as I will need to inform Mr Blank to arrange their company's
international accountant to receive the funds on your behalf and their
company's house lawyer to head to the Hong Kong Government Court to issue
the "Letter Of Authorisation" as well as to check the availability of the
court for you.


Hope this will help explain to you clearly about what we're facing.
 

Rod

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
27 May 2014
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2,894
www.hutchinsonlegal.com.au
Reads very much like a scammer at play. I haven't seen this particular one before but be very careful if you value your money.

Did you ask for or buy these tickets?

Recommend you contact scamwatch to see if they have heard of this one. Their webpage is here:

SCAMwatch home
 

Tim W

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
28 April 2014
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820
2,894
Sydney
I agree with the above.
SCAM.
In big red letters.
 

Sandra Clark

Active Member
9 June 2015
5
0
31
Thanks for Help Rod did not pay any money. Thought is was a scam that's why I check with this site. Very helpful